Maryland high school basketball notebook (1/3/204)

Frederick High’s boys basketball team has unfinished business this season. The Cadets were impressive in the opening month of the regular season, capped with winning their bracket at the Governor’s Challenge in Salisbury last week.

Frederick defeated South Lakes (Virginia) in the final, 69-49, after ousting reigning Class 3A state champ City, 65-51. The Cadets are 8-1 with their only blemish a 65-62 overtime loss to Jefferson (West Virginia), which reached the West Virginia Class 4A state semifinals last season.

Last season, Frederick advanced to the Maryland Class 3A state semifinals with a perfect 26-0 mark. The Cadets lost to Damascus, 53-50, ending their bid at a first state title since 1982.

Frederick (currently 9-1) is arguably the early line favorite to hoist the 3A state championship trophy at the University of Maryland in March with four returning starters in seniors David Dorsey (6-foot-6 forward), Ivan Quijada (Hood College commit; 6-0 guard), Elwyne Wordlaw (6-0 guard) and junior point guard Emonte Hill (5-9).

In a highly anticipated match with City, which defeated Damascus to cap a 28-0 season and the 3A state crown last March, Frederick fell into an early 18-8 hole. Sparked by Quijada’s 3-point shooting, the Cadets responded with a 28-11 run for a 36-29 advantage and never trailed again.

Dorsey finished with 19 points and five rebounds while Wordlaw added 14 points and four assists. Quijada had 14 points, five rebounds and two steals and junior guard EJ Hill contributed eight assists.

The Cadets, who owns a win over Virginia Class 4 champ Varina, has a road match against Washington Catholic Athletic Conference stronghold St. John’s College (D.C.) Wednesday.

Governor’s Challenge recap

The Governor’s Challenge, the nation’s largest holiday tournament, featured teams from Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Tennessee, Arizona and Canada.

Compass Prep from Arizona, ranked 12th in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25, made the trek from the West to Maryland’s Eastern Shore to post victories over DeMatha (57-49) and Rock Creek Christian (68-64) in the Elite Showcase.

Rock Creek, Atholton, Clinton Grace Academy, Charles H. Flowers, Georgetown Prep, Gwynn Park, Indian Creek, Loyola Blakefield, Milford Mill, Riverdale Baptist, Tome School, and Largo each won their respective bracket titles.

Largo defeated Constitution (PA), which defeated New Town, in the opening round. New Town defeated Largo in last year’s Class 2A state final.

Another Bold-en move for Stephen Decatur

The last four months have been anything but boring for Careen Bolden. The senior helped Stephen Decatur remain undefeated with victories over Delaware schools Syrmna and Dover in the Eastern Shore Showcase.

In a battle of undefeated squads, Decatur outlasted Dover, 53-52, in the final game of the 2023 Governor’s Challenge. After his squad blew a 10-point fourth quarter advantage, Bolden drained a jumper, giving Decatur the lead with 4.2 seconds left in regulation.

After a Dover timeout, Bolden intercepted the inbound pass and finished with a thunderous one-handed dunk, though time had expired.

"I kind of knew what they were running," Bolden said to DMVElite. "I knew they were trying to get a pin-up play, and I just read it perfect like a DB (defensive back) and I just got the game-winning steal."

Bolden was a triple-threat on the gridiron this past fall for Stephen Decatur, which won its first state championship (Class 2A) and finished 14-0. He was selected as a wide receiver, defensive end and kick returner on the Bayside Conference’s first-team.

Bolden, who transferred from Seaford (DE) to Stephen Decatur during the summer, has been a key ingredient in the basketball team’s perfect start.

Despite missing on 11 of his first 14 attempts, the Seahawks (7-0) put the ball in his hands late in regulation.

"I gave him the nod, he can score," said Decatur coah BJ Johnson. "I just told him, 'Man, go do your thing,' and that's what he did."